The Kogi state government has begun the payment of February salaries and pensions.
In a statement issued in the late hours of Monday, the State Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, explained that civil servants on levels 1 – 6 of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), alongside pensioners on monthly payment of N40, 000 and below have been paid one hundred percent of their February salary in line with the new minimum wage.
He added that workers in the judiciary and legislative arms of government were paid 100% as well.
However, workers in level 7 and above in all MDAs, the pensioners as well as the political office holders were paid 70% of the new minimum wage.
Asiru apologized to the civil servants for the delay in payment of February salaries.
“It is imperative to make clarifications on the above issue, as regards the delay in the payment of February salary.
“This explanation became necessary so as to address and to assuage the rising concern of the generality of the work force in the state.
“Such concern raised is very much valid, owing to the trajectory of the prompt and undelayed salary payment by the confluence state, known to have and has steadily maintained regular payment of salaries since the inception of the New Direction Government.
“The noticed delay is occasioned by the late receipt as well as the poor January allocation of FAAC figures to the State, the worst in the last 4 years. Consequently, the low figures in the distributable revenue share is responsible for the development,” he explained.
The Commissioner assured that the state government is committed to clear the outstanding arrears in the following month.
“While we apologise for the delay and the accompany inconveniences, be rest assured of our commitment to the welfare and interest of our workforce”.
